The first official photo of Prince William and his wife Catherine's baby son George.

THE first official pictures of Prince George since leaving the hospital were leaked online hours before the palace was ready to release them.

The images, which were officially released on Tuesday at 8am (AEST), were leaked on Twitter several hours before.

In a break with tradition, the images were taken by the Duchess of Cambridge's father Michael Middleton.

The intimate pictures were taken earlier this month at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, west of London.

A handout picture from Kensington Palace shows Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, with their newborn baby boy, Prince George of Cambridge and Kate's black cocker spaniel, Lupo and the Middleton family pooch Tilly (beside the Duchess).Source: AFP

The image shows Prince George wrapped in a white blanket in his mother's arms while Prince William looks on from the left.

In his first TV interview since becoming a father, Prince William opens up about diaper changes, sleepless nights and managing baby George. Mana Rabiee reports.

Another shows them with the Middleton family dog, Tilly.

The release of the images follows William describing his son as a little "rascal", who reminds him of his mischievous brother Harry.

The Duke of Cambridge sat down with CNN at his home at Kensington Palace to speak about how he is enjoying being a new father to baby George.

"He's a little bit of a rascal, I'll put it that way," William said. "He either reminds me of my brother or me when I was younger, I'm not sure, but he's doing very well at the moment."

"He's growing quite quickly actually. But he's a little fighter - he wriggles around quite a lot and he doesn't want to go to sleep that much."

(FILES) A file picture taken on July 23, 2013, shows Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, holding her new baby son. Britain's Prince William and his wife Kate have named their new baby boy George Alexander Louis, Kensington Palace announced on Wednesday July 24, 2013. "The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to announce that they have named their son George Alexander Louis. The baby will be known as His Royal Highness Prince George of Cambridge," the palace said in a statement. AFP PHOTO / JOHN STILLWELL/FILESSource: AFP

William admitted he was "looking forward to going back to work" in order to catch up on some sleep.

His wife Catherine gave birth to little George on July 22. William spoke of his pride at showing off his new son to the world from the steps of the hospital.

"I think more shock was the feeling I felt, but I was on such a high anyway, and so was Catherine, about George that really we were happy to show him off to whoever wanted to see him," he said.

"As any new parent knows, you're only too happy to show off your new child and, you know, proclaim that he is the best looking or the best everything. It's nice that people want to see George - I'm just glad he wasn't screaming his head off the whole way through," he said with a laugh.

William received praise for the relative ease in which he was able to secure his son's car seat but says it was not beginners' luck.

"Believe, me it wasn't my first time," William said, "and I know there's been some speculation about that. I had to practice, I really did - I was terrified it was going to fall off or the door wasn't going to close properly."

Britain's Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge hold George, the Prince of Cambridge, as they pose for photographers outside St. Mary's Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London.Source: AP

He said it was really important to him to drive his family away from the hospital

"I am as independent as I want to be, same as Catherine and Harry. We've all grown up differently to other generations and I very much feel if that I can do it myself, I want to do it myself," he said.

"There are times where you can't do it yourself and the system takes over, or it's appropriate to do things differently. But I think driving your son and your wife away from hospital was really important to me."

Despite being the future king of England, William said that didn't mean he got out of nappy duty.

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge' new-born baby boy Prince George seen in a car seat outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital in London. Picture: AFP Source: AFP

"I did the first nappy, it's a badge of honour," he joked. "I wasn't allowed to get away with that. I had every midwife staring at me, saying: 'You do it, you do it.'"

William said the last month having George around has already changed him.

"The last few weeks for me have been a very different emotional experience, something I never thought I would feel myself. And I find, again it's only been a short period, but a lot of things affect me differently now," he said.

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Comments on this story

Cymek Posted at 10:10 AM August 20, 2013

Changing nappies is a badge of honour for fathers and certainly not just something the mother should do, watch out William you can get some really scary ones. The two of them raising their own child means they will have a close bond with their child something they wouldn't have if a team of nannies did it. I'm no fan of the royals but at least the younger brood are much more realistic about life.

Faith of Melbourne Posted at 9:57 AM August 20, 2013

Agree with you Kel.
I love hearing some lovely positive news for once.
They a a beautiful little family and good for them.
Everyone else, try "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything a all".
The world would be a much better place.

a Posted at 9:53 AM August 20, 2013

Has no one noticed that they didn't strap him into the car seat properly???

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